Monday, July 16, 2012

Apple Crumble Loaf

Apple Crumble Loaf
Whenever I'm really missing my Mum (who lives in Malaysia), I get the urge to make this cake. I blogged about my Mum's Apple Crumble Cake in the early days of my blog, and it will always have a special place in my heart. It's one of the few cakes my Mum still bakes these days, and was one I would constantly ask her to make for us. There's so much nostalgia associated with it.  Being in the kitchen with my Mum preparing the cake mixture, licking the beaters, arranging slices of Granny Smith Apples, getting my hands covered in flour while we made the crumble, and the wonderful smells and anticipation as I hovered in front of the oven waiting for the cake to be done. This cake gives me the warm and fuzzies.
Apple Crumble Loaf
As I mentioned in the original post, it's a cross between an apple tea cake and an apple crumble. The best of both worlds. I decided to change up the presentation a bit this time, increasing the amounts and baking it in a loaf tin, to make it easier to slice up into portions and smother with copious amounts of brown sugar vanilla bean custard. I think I didn't quite get the ratio of apple to crumble right this time around, so I've increased the amounts in the recipe below. You want a buttery, moist cake, a decent layer of apple slices baked golden brown in brown sugar and cinnamon, and a gloriously crunchy crumble top.
Apple Crumble Loaf
This is one of those cakes that smells so great while it's baking, you will get all twitchy and impatient waiting to taste it. I had to stop myself from tucking right into the cake while it was still in the pan straight after it came out of the oven. But it was worth the time to stop and make a batch of fresh homemade custard (the carton stuff is never good enough), this cake really benefits from a topping like a custard or a good slathering of butter or cream, or even a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. I think that's why it made a lot more sense for me to bake it in as loaf rather than a round cake. And then I drowned a piece of cake in custard and went to my happy place.
Apple Crumble Loaf
Apple Crumble Loaf with Brown Sugar Custard
(makes one medium loaf cake, serves about 8-10) 
For the cake:
225g self-raising flour (about 1 & 3/4 cups)
125g butter, softened
120g sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp milk
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 tbsp brown sugar + 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

For the crumble:
125g self raising flour (approx. 1 cup)
90g sugar
45g butter
1.5-2 tbsp water for mixing
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For the custard:
3 large egg yolks
75g brown sugar (about 1/3 cup packed, can replace with 75g golden syrup)
300ml pouring cream (about 1 & 1/4 cups)
150ml milk (about 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp)
1 vanilla bean pod or 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Grease and line a 20cm x 10cm (8x4inch) loaf tin with baking paper. Prepare the cake batter; preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Place sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and beating until combined. Reduce mixer speed to slow and gradually add flour and and milk and mix until just combined. Pour batter into prepared tin and smooth surface with a spatula. Layer apples slices over the top of the batter, there should be enough for two layers of slices. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the apple slices.

Prepare the crumble; place butter, flour, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and rub the mixture gently between the tips of your fingers to combine them, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Gradually add a 1/2 tablespoon of water at a time, while still combining with your fingertips until the mixture starts to form fairly bit clumps of around 0.5 cm diameter, rather than fine breadcrumbs. I added about 2 tbps water.
Apple Crumble Loaf
Bake in oven for 50-60mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the crumble on top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely in tin. Serve while still warm (and should be heated before serving always).

Prepare the custard; place milk, cream and vanilla (pod split and seeds scraped) in a medium saucepan and bring just to the boil. Set aside to cool for a minute. Place egg yolks and sugar in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until pale and sugar has dissolved. While still whisking, gradually add hot mixture to the bowl until completely combined. Return mixture to the saucepan and place on low heat, stirring continuously. (And I mean continuously, unless you want to end up with scrambled eggs.) Stir until mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and transfer mixture to a bowl. Cover surface of mixture with clingfilm to prevent a skin forming. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Cut cake into slices and serve warm with custard or cream or ice cream. Trust me, it's not even half as good at room temperature. Can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several days.
Apple Crumble Loaf
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37 comments:

  1. Love love your recipes Steph photos look amazing

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  2. What an absolutely beautiful cake, I can't wait to try this out. My dad is an apple fanatic so this will be a special treat saved for him!

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  3. oh my gosh, I want to eat that NOW!

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  4. I can smell it all the way over here (Pacific NW USA)...it wouldn't last long in our house!

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  5. I absolutely adore the look of this cake. You're right - looks a cross between a tea cake and an apple crumble. But how can you complain? :D It looks gorgeous, definitely something to bring to the table when you have some girlfriends come over for some tea and gossip xx

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  6. holy moly i love crumble! totes would make a bucket of stuff and eat with a spoon. or my hands.

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  7. Yum! Your cake reminds me of a family favourite that is similar but includes hazelnut meal too. I found it in Good Living a few years ago. I couldn't find it online so here's a transcription: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pSK4JcZ_r9EFZ7arGBT2kP0k0uDT6Je-M6mFmsuwZrs/edit

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  8. Wow, this looks so delicious! Your blog just gets better and better! x

    Kate {Modette}
    http://modetteblog.com

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  9. Oh yum!! I love crumbles. I can't wait to try this! :-)

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  10. Do you take your own photos? They are beautiful!

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  11. This looks extremely good! I love this loaf since this has apples, which is my favourite fruit. Bookmarked!

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  12. apple crumble is so sentimental for me too, my aunt makes it religiously, so i have so many memories attached with the beautiful, crumbly, gooey dessert. now i can make it in cake form, so it's portable!

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  13. This looks so good (Guess what I'm making for dessert tonight!). This is my first time commenting but I just want to say I love your blog and have been following it for a while now. Everything you post looks delicious, and like it should be in the pages of a food magazine :)

    Sarah @ That Teenage Feeling

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  15. Food that evokes such strong memories is my absolute favourite. My Mum is allergic to apples so this wouldn't be one for her, but I'd happily eat her portion! :-)

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  16. Your Mums cake looks delicious. The perfect concoction of fruit cake and crumble .Raising the bar further with custard , lovely

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  17. this looks so delicious. I love apple in baked goods & once you add crumble as well...

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  18. Hello, I've been following you for a while and I just wanted to say that your photography and food styling is utterly beautiful. So inspiring!

    Great post!

    EmmaMT

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  19. Made it today and it was absolutely delicious! LOVE your blog!!

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  20. beautiful. i love the desaturated photos.

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  21. i love your presentation, great load-crumble combo, love it! I particularly like the brown sugar custard..i think it's time to make some tonight:-)

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  22. OMG i'm getting hunger pains just looking at this post :) I've got all the ingredients at home! I might be able to make it soon ~ YAY!

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  23. The perfect tea time treat :) Love apple cakes!

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  24. Crazy awesome. I love that you added apple slices before you put the crumble. Love! ♥

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  25. The custard looks incredible, and I can just imagine how good the cake tastes. Lovely!

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  26. oh my gosh that looks so amazing! i'll take 2 slices please:) haha and those ice cream cone macaroons are adorable!!!! love your blog!

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  27. Your photographs are beautiful! This recipe looks & sounds amazing!

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  28. Oh my gosh I have GOT to try this recipe ... Chrissi x

    With Passion and Love

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  29. It's so beautiful! I can't wait for apple season to give this a go. Yummy!

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  30. I made this last week! It was a hit! But the crumble was too sweet! Is 240g really the right amount?

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    Replies
    1. Ack! I checked and you were right, there was a huge mistake in the sugar amount for the crumble. I've corrected it now, so sorry!

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  31. omg steph! I just can't get enough of your baking and pictures! They are amazing! The brown sugar custard and crumble on the top are to die for. I could eat it all day!
    -SimplyBakes

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